Vasil Belski, head of the Luninets District Court,
turned down the appeal of the head of the independent trade-union at the
"Granite" enterprise Aleh Stakhayevich, against his dismissal.

The lawyer of the Belarusian Congress of Democratic Trade Union Alena Yaskova,
who represented Stakhayevich's interests at court, disagreed with the court
verdict. She stated that the explanatory section of the verdict is quite weak.
For instance it is stated there that the expediency of training Mr.
Stakhayevich for a new job depended on the wish of the employer, though he was
dismissed according to the article which provides the duty of the employment to
conduct such re-education.

Aleh Stakhayevich called the trial a lawless clownery, aimed at the liquidation
of the independent trade union at "Granite".

About 50 leaders and members of independent trade unions came to the trial to
support the defendant. Yaskova stated that the court verdict will be appealed
at higher courts and information about the results of the trials will be
submitted to the International Labor Organization.

Aleh Stakhayevich had been dismissed from the position of a car driver after
the exodus of many workers from the state trade union, creation of an
independent trade union and electing him to the position of its head.